Amen Paul. Absolutely right. I am sick of the negativism as well. I spent 9 months in Iraq in 2003. All these whiners here need to get a life and understand that there are lots of things in life worse than being 9-3. Constructive criticism is justified....whining whimpism is pathetic. Spend a day at Hartsfield Jackson Airport and meet and greet those Soldiers and Marines on their way back to Iraq and Afghanistan. No whining there and they have a hell of lot more reason to whine than some of these spoiled Georgia "bandwagon" fans.

Homer: So I want the monogram to read "M-A-X P-O-W ... "Employee: Sir, traditionally, a monogram is just initials.Homer: Max Power doesn't abbreviate. Each letter is as important as the one that preceded it. Maybe more important! No, as important.Employee: Very well.Homer: And if you've got enough room, add some exclamation points and a pirate flag.Trent: The man knows what he likes.

Homer: Then I'd like to legally change my name!Judge: What name would you prefer?Homer: Any of these will be fine.Judge: Hmm. "Hercules Rockefeller." "Rembrandt Q. Einstein." "Handsome B. Wonderful." I'm going to give you the only name you spelled correctly. From this day forward, your name shall be...

Lisa: "Max Power"?Homer: Dynamic, isn't it?Bart: I love it, Max.Marge: You changed your name without consulting me?Homer: That's the way Max Power is, Marge. Decisive. Uncompromising! And rude!Marge: But I fell in love with Homer Simpson! I don't want to snuggle with "Max Power!"Homer: Nobody snuggles with Max Power. You strap yourself in and feel the "G"s!Marge: Oh, Lord.Homer: And it doesn't stop in the bedroom. Oh, no. I'm taking charge! Kids, there's three ways to do things. The right way, the wrong way, and the Max Power way!Bart: Isn't that the wrong way?Homer: Yeah, but faster!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

UPDATE:Blutarsky is right on. I'm about two more answers like that away from walking down the street and just telling people the Auburn Athletic Department is a racist institution.----Does anyone remember the Bugs Bunny skit where he meets Hansel and Gretel, and Bugs Bunny just keeps repeating the name Hansel like he absolutely can't believe or process that this kids name is Hansel?

That seems to be the nearly universal response to Auburn hiring Gene Chizik as their new head football coach. I'd be laughing, except for the very small percentage chance that it might work. I don't like taking chances.

ME: Turner Gill was the only one who scared me.

JOE: Gene Chizik. Who did not win a conference game this year.

ME: Are we sure this is right?

JOE: He was 2-10, dude.

ME: And not Turner Gill.

What would be even more fantastic, would be if Iowa State would hire Turner Gill to replace Chizik. But I'm not asking for that. That would be greedy.

Georgia tech made this far less funny a couple weeks ago, but this is an actual program being run by their booster organization:

Retailers often say that they don't stock Georgia Tech merchandise because there is no demand. The new program outfits Yellow Jacket fans with "I Want MY GT" cards to put in the hands of retailers, encouraging them to sell Georgia Tech products. Specifically, the message on the card states, "Dear Retailer, I'm one of thousands of Yellow Jacket fans, and I want my GT! You can help us show our school pride by carrying Georgia Tech merchandise and we'll help you become an official Buzz Stop."

Fans are also asked to sign a pledge:

I, Your Name: , do solemnly pledge before Buzz and on all that is white and gold to let retailers know that I want my GT!

It's like they do these things on purpose.-----Me at some point during the SEC Title game:

I feel a little like the Russian crowd in Rocky IV.

I still hate America, but Tim Tebow has made me stop hating him.

Wait, that can't be right...

----Also during the SEC Championship, Brent Musberger said he wants an elite committee of former coaches and players to name the two teams playing for the National Championship. I agree, but think it could be more than two.

It should be however many it takes, with the number changing each year, if that's what makes sense that year. I'm happy to vote.----Maybe Tebow's Drago. Like he killed Apollo this year, but Rennie Curran's going to tackle him in downtown Gainesville this Christmas...

I don't know. He's got that spiked hair.

And the freaking high school Tim Tebow almost scares me more than the current one:

We will not be stopped. I will not be stopped, right now.----In Athens the other day, I visited the gymnastics/basketball practice complex adjacent to Stegman Coliseum for the first time. That place is awesome.

I noticed we named the center after Nine Time National Champion Gymnastics Coach Suzanne Yoculan, but we put a picture of Don Leeburn by the door.

"Don Leeburn's contribution to the new facility made the naming of the Suzanne Yoculan Gymnastics Center possible," says the plaque at the front door and just outside coaches' offices.

Just the naming, huh? Where's the plaque that says, "And don't you forget it, Babe."

----Finally, I am happy to report that the Christmas lights are out in downtown Athens. And they are just as beautiful as ever.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

As I was driving home from tonight's basketball game and listening to the post-game show (Dawgs beat Virginia Tech 67-66 with a pretty darn good second half of play), Head Coach Dennis Felton promised significant improvement from the team by the time they play Wofford.

That's 11 days from now, due to a break for finals.

Having not learned my lesson during previous years, this gives me hope for the season. And I say we hold him to his promise. Because the team I saw tonight, with just a little work, could climb right into the middle echelon of conference mediocrity.

The game will feature two of the nation's best running backs in Jevon Ringer of Michigan State vs. Knowshon Moreno of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Personally, I think this is the most appropriate bowl destination for this team given the season we've had so far. MSU hasn't beaten anyone of note this season, and neither have our Bulldogs. It's a test to see who is most legit.

A noted lover of plants, Dooley... accompanied renowned horticulturist and former UGA professor Michael Dirr and Atlanta landscape architect Alex Maddox to a nursery in Hickory, N. C., to personally select many of the trees and shrubs that have been planted in the plaza.

Maddox said visitors “will see plants they don’t normally see — weeping plants and variegated pines,” among others. And plenty of Dooley’s beloved Japanese maples.

The center of attention, though, is the bronzed Dooley, held aloft by players wearing Nos. 64 and 88. The numbers represent the first (1964) and last (1988) seasons that Dooley coached the Dogs. On the back of the bronzed jerseys, the players’ names are “National” and “Champions."

I'll tell you a secret about reporters: We like to put cool stuff at the end.

The Dooley Garden is fine. Until President Adams leaves and we can move the statue to the stadium and keep the park, too. The Michael Adams Athletic Complex Dawg Park. That has a certain ring to it.